Swimmer&#39;s aid



A. SYDORIAK SWIMMER'S AID April 14, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17. 1968 INVENTOR.

ALEXANDER S YDORM K L? BY 1105 ATTORNEY April 14, 1970 Filed June 17. 1968 A. SYDORIAK SWIMMER'S AID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALEXANDER S YDOR/AK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,505,970 SWIMMERS AID Alexander Sydoriak, 113 Fair St.,

Kingston, N.Y. 12402 Filed June 17, 1968, Ser. No. 737,436 Int. Cl. A63b 35/10 U.S. 'Cl. 115-263 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus is here taught for increasing the range and mobilty of swimmers. The apparatus includes a hull held in spaced relationship from the swimmers breast. The hull journals a shaft which has a propeller operatively mounted thereto. Two spools are arranged about the shaft and are each provided with clutches whereby each drives the shaft when rotating thereabout in a like positively defined sense and whereby they slide freely about the shaft in a negative sense. A pair of flexible elements are each wrapped about one of the spools in an opposite sense and each element is connected to one of the feet of the swimmer whereby when the swimmer alternately extends and retracts his feet in a normal stepping motion, he exerts positive pulls alternately on the spools. These positive pulls integrate for continuous driving of the propeller.

BACKGROUND Many devices for use by swimmers are driven by motors or batteries. With such craft the swimmer rideshe does not swim, so there is a sacrifice of exercise. In U.S. Patent 3,349,746 this inventor disclosed a prior version of a craft to propel a swimmer and which adapted a natural stepping action of the swimmers legs for continuously turning a propeller. The present invention is a simple, inexpensive and advanced apparatus of the same kind.

SUMMARY As in this inventors prior versionof an apparatus for swimmers, a rod is connectable between the body of the swimmer and a hull for positioning the hull in spaced relationship from the swimmers breast. The hull journals a shaft which has a propeller operatively mounted thereon. In the present apparatus, two spools are arranged about the shaft and are each provided with clutches whereby each drives the shaft when rotating thereabout in a like positively defined sense and whereby each spool rotates freely about the shaft in a negative sense. A pair of flexible elements are each wrapped about one of the spools in senses opposite each to the other and each element is connected to one of the feet of the swimmer whereby when the swimmer alternatively extends and retracts his feet in a normal stepping motion, he exerts alternate positive pulls on the spools which integrate for continuous driving of the propeller.

The primary objective of this invention is to increase the range and mobility of a swimmer.

A further objective is to adapt more effectively a natural stepping action of the swimmers feet for continuously turning a propeller to move the swimmer.

A further objective is to have the swimmer participate physically in his movement. Speed and maneuverability depend up on the swimmers strength and coordination, so this apparatus lends itself to athietlc competition. It will be seen readily that this apparaus adds scope to water polo and other team sports because courts can be enlarged. The apparatus can be used either on or below the surface, so water games can include self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

A further objective is to provide an apparatus to in- 3,505,970 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 crease the range and mobility of a frogman for military purposes, because this apparatus emits no gases. It is intended to reduce the frogmans liability of being detected.

A further objective is to present a more simple and inexpensive apparatus which needs neither fuel nor batteries, needs practically no maintenance and is otherwise well suited to its intended task.

DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objectives will be seen more fully from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE I is a sketch illustrating a swimmer using the apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE II is a front elevation of the apparatus showing among other things the sense of rotation of the propeller.

FIGURE III is a partial side elevation of the apparatus as seen from the swimmers left.

FIGURE IV is a fragmented plan view in section taken along line IV-IV of FIGURE II and with the handles omitted.

FIGURE V is a fragmented detail section of the shaft with the propeller and spool mounted thereon.

FIGURE VI is a fragmented detail section taken along both lines VI-VI of FIGURE IV and showing the clutch arrangement between the spools and the shaft.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As best seen in FIGURE I this apparatus comprises a hull generally designated 1 which is connected to a swimmer who is immersed prone in water. To orient the swimmer relative the hull, rod 2 is fixed to hull 1 and is connected by means of ball and socket joint 3 to the swimmers harness which is shown as band 4 encircling the swimmers waist. Harness of this kind are described more fully in U.S. Patent 3,349,746. As pointedout in that patent, the swimmer may use apparel which includes either air pockets for buoyancy or weights for maintaining the swimmer below the surface of the water. Also such devices may be included in the hull itself.

An important aspect of the present invention is to adapt a natural stepping action of the swimmers feet to turn propeller 6 for moving the swimmer. As best seen from FIGURES I and IV, first 7 and second 8 flexible elements are connected over pulley 9 to the swimmers left foot. First 7 and second 8 flexible elements are also connected over pulley 11 to the swimmers right foot. For convenience, directions and senses of rotation will be taken from the swimmers point of view. By means of alternating reciprocal movements of the swimmers feet (as in a normal walking step) the ends of the first 7 and second 8 elements connected to the swimmers left foot and those ends connected to the swimmers right foot are pulled and relaxed in turn. First flexible element 7 penetrates hull 1 via passage 12 and over guide bosses 13 and wraps about first spool 14 so that on extending the swimmers left foot to pull first elezment 7, first spool 14 is turned in a clockwise sense. As seen from FIGURE VI, circular elements 16 of the corresponding clutch are thereby pinched between shaft 17 and first spool 14 whereby shaft 17 is turned and propeller 6 is driven in a clockwise sense. On the same extension of the swimmers left foot second 8 flexible element which penetrates hull 1 via passage 18 and over guide :bosses 19 wraps about second spool 21. As seen from'FIGURE VI, circular elements 16 of the corresponding clutch are thereby moved into the deep end 21 of recesses 23 where they clear shaft 17 and second spool 21 slides freely in a counter-clockwise sense over the clockwise rotating shaft to wind up second element 8.

Conversely second element 8 is similarly organized relative the swimmers right foot so that on extending the swimmers right foot to pull second element 8, second spool 21 is turned in a clockwise sense. As seen from FIG- URE VI, circular elements 16 of the corresponding clutch are thereby pinched between shaft 17 and spool 21 whereby the shaft is turned and propeller 6 is driven in a clockwise sense. Also on the same extension of the swimmers right foot, first flexible element 7 wraps about first rotating spool 14 to be in a position for the next extension of the swimmers left foot.

As best seen in FIGURES HI and IV, to prevent flexible elements 7 and 8 from falling off spools 14 and 21, rollers 27 are provided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art here involved that wide deviations may be made from the preferred embodiment set forth above without departing from the scope of invention contemplated in the following claims. By way of example the circular elements 16 in the clutches could be rods instead of ball-bearing. Also, bushings 24 of tetrafluoroethylene and washers 26 of the same material can be employed to reduce friction.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for moving a swimmer and comprisa hull having a shaft journaled thereto and a propeller mounted on the shaft,

rigid means connectable between the body of the swimmer and the hull for positioning the hull in spaced relationship from the swimmer,

a first and a second spool each arranged about the shaft and each having clutch means whereby the spool drives the shaft when rotating in a like positive sense and whereby the spool rotates freely in the opposite sense,

a fiexible first element wrapped about the first spool and connected to both feet of the swimmer whereby when the swimmer extends his left foot in a natural stepping motion he exerts a pull on the first element rotating the first spool in its positive sense,

a second flexible element wrapped about the second spool in a sense opposite to that of the first element about the first spool and connected to both feet of the swimmer whereby when the swimmer extends his right footin a natural stepping motion he exerts a pull on the second element turning the second spool in its positive rotational sense,

the first element arranged to rewind on the first spool as the right foot extends and the second element arranged to rewind on the second spool as the left foot extends,

the first and second flexible elements comprising a continuous element,

stirrups connectable to each of the feet of the swimmer,

each of the stirrups having a pulley rotatably mounted thereon,

the first and second flexible elements connectable to the swimmers feet over the pulleys.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 with one of the spools mounted fore and one aft of the propeller,

the hull embracing the spools the propeller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the shaft is cylindrical,

each of the spools has a generally cylindrical inside wall,

each of the clutch means comprising at least one recess provided in the inside wall of the spool and gradually increasing in depth toward the positive sense,

a circular elementin the recess and having a diameter less than the maximum depth of the recess whereby on turning the spool in its negative sense the circular element moves into the bottom of the recess so that the spool slips over the shaft and whereby on turning the spool in the positive sense the circular element is pinched between the spool and the shaft so that the shaft is driven.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 with each of the clutch means including at least three of the reasons and circular element combinations.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 with ball bearings as the circular elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and the hull provided with bearings lined with tetrafluoroethylene for journalling the shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 with the hull defining passages and guide bosses to receive the flexible elements therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,606 12/1925 Verbsky 26.1 3,349,746 10/19 67 Sydoriak l1522.3

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner 

